- Report: #405236
Complaint Review: Target National Bank - Target Financial Services - Minneapolis Minnesota
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Target National Bank - Target Financial Services
P.O. Box 673 Minneapolis, 55440 Minnesota, U.S.A.
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888-608-7627
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Target National Bank, Target Financial Services Reporting false info to credit bureaus, hanging up on the consumer, Target National Bank tricks and lies Minneapolis Minnesota
Below is the letter I am sending out TODAY to try to clear my name and credit score with all the credit bureaus.
December 26, 2008
Erin Timmers
Target
PO Box 9475, MS 3A-R
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9475
Account # ending in 9420
Dear Ms. Timmers,
I have recently received a letter from you stating that my account number as listed above is currently 3 months past due and that you'd like to help me with a payment plan. Unfortunately, when I tried to call you at 888-480-5004 at your extension 78453, different representatives answered the phone and indicated that you will NOT be helping me with this account, that they instead will field the questions. After I was hung up on the first time, I called back to simply have it noted that all further communications with Target will be done via mail. The reporting that my account is 3 months past due is inaccurate. Below are the account details that should reflect in Target's system.
1. In February or March of this year, 2008, I called Target to work out a payment plan so that I would not be penalized for not being able to pay the full minimum amount due each month.
The minimum due was about $300 or more and, being the only one in my household with a job right now (the debt was incurred by my fianc for his home-based business expenses) I was unable to meet that bill which he had previously been paying as the secondary cardholder. I was informed by the man who assisted me in my request that a payment of $102 would be automatically withdrawn from my bank account on the 22nd of each month. These payments have been made, although Target was irregular about the date of withdrawal from my account. Enclosed are the copies of checks my bank has provided as proof that Target has taken their money each month. Sadly, my account balance has not come down one bit.
2. There were one or two occasions when the $102 did not clear my account, mostly because the payment was not automatically withdrawn on the day as promised, thereby hitting my account when I had thought the payment had already been made, or before money was put into the account to cover the expense, putting my bank account into the negative.
Target never called to indicate the payment was missed. Instead, I would call Target only to receive notice that I was kicked off the payment plan and minimum payments in the $300 range resumed. When I called to correct the situation I was placed back on the payment plan, otherwise the $102 payment would not continue.
3. The only recent payment that has not been made was for November. Target has taken it upon themselves to hit my account for $102 for the December payment. Why? I don't know, because any other time I had to call and practically beg to be put back on the plan.
The most interesting thing about this payment arrangement is that the only way I know a payment has not gone through is by looking at my bank account and seeing the payment was refused due to low funds in my bank account. November's payment had a posting date of November 23rd, the day AFTER I expected the money to be withdrawn, leading me to believe I could shop for GROCERIES, of all things. I ended up in the negative and my next Target statement indicated that the regular payment of a few hundred dollars was again due.
4. In November I tried to apply for a debt consolidation loan through my bank, which was denied due to Target's, and Target's ALONE, reporting that I was 30 days past due.
The intention of the loan was to pay off mainly the Target debt. None of my other accounts have EVER been late, and it is funny that Target would report me late as I was working with them. The timeline in which I was reported as 30 days late was NOT even CLOSE to 30 days past due. The payment was due November 22nd, I was denied for the loan on the 5th of December. When I asked my bank what payment was indicated as 30 days late the representative stated that it was because my November payment was not made. I knew my account was not 30 days past due at that time and I did not realize that my payment had not gone through. So, when I called Target to straighten out the November missed payment fiasco, the rude man on the other end of the line informed me that just because they worked out a payment plan for me that they were still going to report me late because, and I quote as accurately as I can remember, in all reality you're not paying your bill. I tried to inform the rude person, who kept trying to talk over me, that the deal that was made earlier this year, as PROMISED TO ME, was that as long as I was working with Target and trying to make those payment plan payments, they were not going to report me late. I was lied to, apparently.
Target has injured my credit score and has caused me severe mental anguish, which has manifested itself in sleeplessness and severe, regular heartburn and headaches. I was under the impression, as stated by the first Target representative to work with me, that I would not be reported late as long as I was working with them. Unfortunately, my bank account has also suffered because of Target's mishandling of the payment withdrawals and the credit card's balance has not come down by much, if at all.
I have also noticed that Target Financial Services or Target National Bank has several negative ratings on The Ripoff Report (www.ripoffreport.com). Complaints range from account mishandling, poor customer service (rude, unhelpful, refusing a supervisor), to raising interest rates for no reason and even taking money from people's bank accounts that was not authorized. Target can start clearing its name with its public by starting to fix such errors and correcting their poor customer service representatives and report said efforts to The Ripoff Report. A class action lawsuit can also stem from the Ripoff Report's subscribers who have been affected by Target's credit card mishandling.
Seeing that the proof I have provided shows clear as day that Target has intentionally lied to the credit bureaus and to me, and that Target had the audacity to tell me I am 3 months past due when there is no thread of truth to that claim at all, I feel that Target needs to rectify the situation by doing the following:
1. Correct all delinquent or late reportings (after the payment plan was set up this year) to each credit bureau to paid as agreed, because I HAVE been making adjusted payments AS AGREED.
2. If a payment is to be automatically pulled from a bank account, and there was a problem, Target SHOULD call to indicate there was a problem. It would be no different from a collections call, and it is in the best interest of the consumer. If the consumer is not happy, they will no longer shop Target or be an advocate of the Target Card.
3. I pulled my credit report and saw that Target took the opportunity to close my account. I have not received any notice to this effect. I am therefore requesting that this credit be CLOSED IMMEDIATELY and reflect that the consumer closed the account. A payment arrangement can be arranged soon, but only BY MAIL in my interest to protect myself. I will continue to make the $102.00 payments until such time as an agreement has been reached; I cannot afford much more and cannot pay a lump sum as I am the only household income source.
4. The account needs to reflect on my credit report as paid as agreed because false reportings to the credit bureaus can bring serious legal problems for Target. My credit report shows that Target reported me as 60 days late, and yet the letter I received in this same time frame said I am 3 months (90 days) late. Two different pieces of information. Also, how can I be 3 months behind when the September, October, and December payments were made AS AGREED, in the amount of $102.00?
I have tried everything in my power to work with Target only to be let down or hung up on. As a former employee of about 5 years, (at store 650 in Orlando, FL) I am disappointed in the way the company has turned. I do hope that this letter will encourage Target credit services to change their ways to please the consumer, as Target tries to do in their retail environment.
I await communication IN WRITING in regards to settling this account satisfactorily, as I find that phone calls, although supposedly recorded do not help me at all.
Disappointed, former Target shopper and employee,
CC: Gregg W. Steinhafel, President & Chief Executive Officer; Terrence J. Scully, President, Target Financial Services; Timothy R. Baer Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel; Douglas A. Scovanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Experian, TransUnion, Equifax, www.ripoffreport.com
Corporate sux
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on TARGET
December 26, 2008
Erin Timmers
Target
PO Box 9475, MS 3A-R
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9475
Account # ending in 9420
Dear Ms. Timmers,
I have recently received a letter from you stating that my account number as listed above is currently 3 months past due and that you'd like to help me with a payment plan. Unfortunately, when I tried to call you at 888-480-5004 at your extension 78453, different representatives answered the phone and indicated that you will NOT be helping me with this account, that they instead will field the questions. After I was hung up on the first time, I called back to simply have it noted that all further communications with Target will be done via mail. The reporting that my account is 3 months past due is inaccurate. Below are the account details that should reflect in Target's system.
1. In February or March of this year, 2008, I called Target to work out a payment plan so that I would not be penalized for not being able to pay the full minimum amount due each month.
The minimum due was about $300 or more and, being the only one in my household with a job right now (the debt was incurred by my fianc for his home-based business expenses) I was unable to meet that bill which he had previously been paying as the secondary cardholder. I was informed by the man who assisted me in my request that a payment of $102 would be automatically withdrawn from my bank account on the 22nd of each month. These payments have been made, although Target was irregular about the date of withdrawal from my account. Enclosed are the copies of checks my bank has provided as proof that Target has taken their money each month. Sadly, my account balance has not come down one bit.
2. There were one or two occasions when the $102 did not clear my account, mostly because the payment was not automatically withdrawn on the day as promised, thereby hitting my account when I had thought the payment had already been made, or before money was put into the account to cover the expense, putting my bank account into the negative.
Target never called to indicate the payment was missed. Instead, I would call Target only to receive notice that I was kicked off the payment plan and minimum payments in the $300 range resumed. When I called to correct the situation I was placed back on the payment plan, otherwise the $102 payment would not continue.
3. The only recent payment that has not been made was for November. Target has taken it upon themselves to hit my account for $102 for the December payment. Why? I don't know, because any other time I had to call and practically beg to be put back on the plan.
The most interesting thing about this payment arrangement is that the only way I know a payment has not gone through is by looking at my bank account and seeing the payment was refused due to low funds in my bank account. November's payment had a posting date of November 23rd, the day AFTER I expected the money to be withdrawn, leading me to believe I could shop for GROCERIES, of all things. I ended up in the negative and my next Target statement indicated that the regular payment of a few hundred dollars was again due.
4. In November I tried to apply for a debt consolidation loan through my bank, which was denied due to Target's, and Target's ALONE, reporting that I was 30 days past due.
The intention of the loan was to pay off mainly the Target debt. None of my other accounts have EVER been late, and it is funny that Target would report me late as I was working with them. The timeline in which I was reported as 30 days late was NOT even CLOSE to 30 days past due. The payment was due November 22nd, I was denied for the loan on the 5th of December. When I asked my bank what payment was indicated as 30 days late the representative stated that it was because my November payment was not made. I knew my account was not 30 days past due at that time and I did not realize that my payment had not gone through. So, when I called Target to straighten out the November missed payment fiasco, the rude man on the other end of the line informed me that just because they worked out a payment plan for me that they were still going to report me late because, and I quote as accurately as I can remember, in all reality you're not paying your bill. I tried to inform the rude person, who kept trying to talk over me, that the deal that was made earlier this year, as PROMISED TO ME, was that as long as I was working with Target and trying to make those payment plan payments, they were not going to report me late. I was lied to, apparently.
Target has injured my credit score and has caused me severe mental anguish, which has manifested itself in sleeplessness and severe, regular heartburn and headaches. I was under the impression, as stated by the first Target representative to work with me, that I would not be reported late as long as I was working with them. Unfortunately, my bank account has also suffered because of Target's mishandling of the payment withdrawals and the credit card's balance has not come down by much, if at all.
I have also noticed that Target Financial Services or Target National Bank has several negative ratings on The Ripoff Report (www.ripoffreport.com). Complaints range from account mishandling, poor customer service (rude, unhelpful, refusing a supervisor), to raising interest rates for no reason and even taking money from people's bank accounts that was not authorized. Target can start clearing its name with its public by starting to fix such errors and correcting their poor customer service representatives and report said efforts to The Ripoff Report. A class action lawsuit can also stem from the Ripoff Report's subscribers who have been affected by Target's credit card mishandling.
Seeing that the proof I have provided shows clear as day that Target has intentionally lied to the credit bureaus and to me, and that Target had the audacity to tell me I am 3 months past due when there is no thread of truth to that claim at all, I feel that Target needs to rectify the situation by doing the following:
1. Correct all delinquent or late reportings (after the payment plan was set up this year) to each credit bureau to paid as agreed, because I HAVE been making adjusted payments AS AGREED.
2. If a payment is to be automatically pulled from a bank account, and there was a problem, Target SHOULD call to indicate there was a problem. It would be no different from a collections call, and it is in the best interest of the consumer. If the consumer is not happy, they will no longer shop Target or be an advocate of the Target Card.
3. I pulled my credit report and saw that Target took the opportunity to close my account. I have not received any notice to this effect. I am therefore requesting that this credit be CLOSED IMMEDIATELY and reflect that the consumer closed the account. A payment arrangement can be arranged soon, but only BY MAIL in my interest to protect myself. I will continue to make the $102.00 payments until such time as an agreement has been reached; I cannot afford much more and cannot pay a lump sum as I am the only household income source.
4. The account needs to reflect on my credit report as paid as agreed because false reportings to the credit bureaus can bring serious legal problems for Target. My credit report shows that Target reported me as 60 days late, and yet the letter I received in this same time frame said I am 3 months (90 days) late. Two different pieces of information. Also, how can I be 3 months behind when the September, October, and December payments were made AS AGREED, in the amount of $102.00?
I have tried everything in my power to work with Target only to be let down or hung up on. As a former employee of about 5 years, (at store 650 in Orlando, FL) I am disappointed in the way the company has turned. I do hope that this letter will encourage Target credit services to change their ways to please the consumer, as Target tries to do in their retail environment.
I await communication IN WRITING in regards to settling this account satisfactorily, as I find that phone calls, although supposedly recorded do not help me at all.
Disappointed, former Target shopper and employee,
CC: Gregg W. Steinhafel, President & Chief Executive Officer; Terrence J. Scully, President, Target Financial Services; Timothy R. Baer Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel; Douglas A. Scovanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Experian, TransUnion, Equifax, www.ripoffreport.com
Corporate sux
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on TARGET
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Well well...I was right
#2Author of original report
Fri, April 10, 2015
It's been a while!
To update anyone interested, I hired Lexington Lawfirm to help clean up this mess. I was in the right, as I said. They are now CORRECTED on my credit report.
See ya!
A
Jacksonville,Alabama,
U.S.A.
this may help
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, January 12, 2009
I used to work for a company that helped people who had inaccuracies on thier credit reports. I'm not going to put you down for not double checking your bank account, that is really none of my buisness. but I do see that you have attempted a good faith effort with the company. However, back in my early years of using a bank account I learned to NEVER EVER use online banking as a verifyable source of what money is in your account. The biggest example I can use is Cingular, I am on automatic debit on my bills with them and it is stated to come out the 9th, but nine times out of 10 the bill comes out around the 15th. It's not really Cingulars fault or my banks fault, its more of the slowness of computers. While cingular may put in the debit my account on the 9th in their systems, their systems might not get to my bank for a day or two and then my bank may not withdraw these funds for a day or two. It's what we all pay for the "conveniance" of online payments. : ) What you need to do is really up to you but here are my two cents. first, pull your own report. I think that Annualcreditreport.com is still the free website to go through. Look it over carefully. After you pull your report then you need to find all the delinquencies in the report and notify the credit bureau of them. don't get wordy, just state something along the lines of " account *whatever* with account number *whatever* shows a *insert reason here* ( if it was a late payment state you have NEVER been late) Per the fair credit reporting act I demand that this inaccuracy be reviewed and removed. Also per the fair credit reporting act, I would like any and all paperwork sent the the bureau mailed to me along with an updated credit report. I also demand that this be done in a timely period of no more than 30 days. 9 times out of 10 you will not get the paperwork from the bureau from the company in question, however the discrepensy will usually be removed. The reason for this is because almost always companies will report items onto your report without any proof backing it up. When you ask for proof to be given, if the company in question cannot provide it in 30 days, per the law, the item has to be removed. However, there are some big problems with your account with this company ( from what I can deduce from this post). If you already owe a past due balance and are now on a payment plan to bring this past due balance up to date TECHNICALLY they can charge you a 30 day past due balance until your obligations are met on that card. For example, if you are 500 in the hole, and you are on a payment plan that will pay off that 500 and it takes you 5 months, they can ding your credit once a month until that financial obligation is meet. I know this sound confusing and you think you are working with the company but unfourtunetly because you are not making the minimum payments ( originally 300 by your post, not talking about the 100 payment plan thing) technically you are not working with them. They can also legally yank any payment plan they have with you since you have defaulted not only on the card itself but also on the payment plan. You really only have two options to get this card off your back. 1) attempt to get a loan with your bank and pay off the card because anything short of making the at least MINUMUM payment ( once again the 300 dollars, not the 102) then you are NEVER getting out of the hole with these people and there will be nothing you can do. Honestly, only making a 300 minimum payment will still take you years to get out of the hole because most likely they have jacked that cards interest rate up so high that it will almost be impossible to get out. 2) Another option for you is to just totally default on the card and have it go to collections. If it goes to collections then two things happen, one you get a timer put on the card for it to count against you, i belive they can only collect the debt up to 7 years and two if you contact the bureaus like you would for the late payment most likely it would get removed. the only problem with letting it go to collections is a) Target will let the bill get really high before selling the debt off and b) if you get a good collection company they will just sue you. Well this is really long winded, I know these are hard times, and im sincerly not trying to yank your chain, but I worked with years with people with the same exact problem and although you really really belive you are working with the credit card companies, to them you are not working with them until you can at least make that min payment of 300 a month.
Michael
Bountiful,Utah,
U.S.A.
??
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, January 10, 2009
Your letter is way too long and full of irrelevant tangents. Target doesn't care about you buying groceries, your health issues, etc. They just want to know when you are going to pay them and how much. But now that you have put your intentions to them in writing it becomes a binding contract that could be used against you in court should it go that far. The next letter you send them BE BRIEF AND TO THE POINT! Example: Dear Whoever, RE: acct # blah blah blah I understand my account is past due. I will pay you X amount a month until the balance is satisified. Just freeze my account to avoid incurring more fees. Then once it is paid off close the account and report to the credit bureaus as "paid in full account closed at customer request" Thank you Sincerely Whoever See Target probably gets a million letters every day. And they don't have time to read them all. Expecially ones like you wrote. Someone opened your letter, decided it was too long and tossed it in the trash. Just food for though next time.
Corporate sux
Orlando,Florida,
U.S.A.
In response to those who wrote their opinions already...
#5Author of original report
Wed, December 31, 2008
I don't keep good records? Ha...yeah, that's why I've provided them copies of every friggin' thing that proves I've paid. Did I not mention that the missed payments were made right by my paying them as soon as I noticed something was wrong? Did I also not mention that I was informed by Target representatives on various occasions that the account would not be reported late, as I was making every effort to work with them, then they lied? There was in another letter to Target Financial Services, not just this Erin chick. I just posted this one to get more into the open. I know I'm in the right, don't you two worry. You two sound like the kind who field the calls at Target Financial Services. By the way, they DO have to provide notice of any action on the account, which they did not. My legal counsel has advised that I do have some ammunition in this case, so I'm not worried that you people think I'm just scummin' off the system. No, I didn't think they'd just "forget" about the money, and I am old enough to understand how credit works. They HAVE reported inaccurate information and have not upheld their end of the deal they made with me in regards to the payment plan. I was even advised by my counsel to file a police report stating everything that has happened. I have a case. I'm tired of being jerked around and it is a shame that not everyone understands. I would have a perfect credit score had it not been for these MF-ers, and I do make good on my accounts. Maybe if I made more money or my husband had his job back this wouldn't be a problem. And, math major who thinks I owe $30000.00, that is wrong. I actually owe about $8000.00, but I don't exactly have that in my back pocket and it wasn't my debt to begin with, so I'm picking up the pieces. Don't try to judge, I'm just warning you about Target's less than credible account handling.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Account Management..
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, December 29, 2008
"The most interesting thing about this payment arrangement is that the only way I know a payment has not gone through is by looking at my bank account and seeing the payment was refused due to low funds in my bank account. November's payment had a posting date of November 23rd, the day AFTER I expected the money to be withdrawn, leading me to believe I could shop for GROCERIES, of all things." Okay so you monitor your bank account and didn't see the payment come out on the date you agreed to. How come if you are so concerned about them calling you when the payment is rejected, why didn't you hop on the phone right away and call them when you noticed the payment was not taken out on the date they specified? Did you expect them to just forget about it, that it was somehow "free money". No in reality what happened is that you are relying on on-line banking instead of what you should be relying on..YOUR check register. YOU know the payment is going to come out at some point because YOU made arrangements for it. Your bank does NOT know this until it is submited, they are not mind readers after all. So if you actually kept a check register you would have deducted it from your balance because YOU know it is already spent. It would not have mattered if it came in on Nov 22nd, 23rd, or the 28th you should have already accounted for the money being spent. If you track back the rest of your "rejected payments" they seem to follow this same pattern, which is NOT the fault of TFS. As for them closing the account. They had every right to do that, even if you were on time and not on a payment plan they can close it. They are granting you credit, and can take that away at any time and for any reason. So they do not have to give you notice, and they are under no obligation to change it to "closed by consumer". As for the late payments being reported. If you have proof with their statements and your withdraws showing the payments and dates, back to Feburary when this started. If they were in fact not late you need to send in a dispute to the credit reporting agencies with copies of your proof. However, with the rejected payments you have had it seems as if their reporting may be correct.
Billcoll01
MESA,Arizona,
U.S.A.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, December 29, 2008
SO, YOU GOT MAD WHEN THEY WITHDREW THE FUNDS ONTIME BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT IN THE ACCT. YOU GOT MAD WHEN THEY WITHDREW THE FUNDS A COUPLE DAYS LATE BECAUSE YOU DONT KEEP GOOD RECORDS(OR ELSE YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE FUNDS HAD NOT BEEN WITHDRAWN) YOU FALL BEHIND ON THIS ACCT BUT NOTHING ELSE SO NO OTHER CREDITOR HAD TO TAKE A REDUCED PAYMENT. YOU DEMAND THAT TARGET DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS FOR YOU SO THAT YOU WILL DO WHAT FOR THEM IN RETURN?(YOU NEVER REALLY MENTION YOUR PART OF THE DEAL OTHER THAN REFUSING TO SHOP THERE AGAIN, ALTHOUGH IF THE MIN PAYMENT IS 300.00, YOU BALANCE IS CLOSE TO 30,000.00 SO AT 102.00MO, IT WOULD TAKE 24YRS TO PAY THE BALANCE WITHOUT INTEREST!!!!) THE ONLY RIPOFF HERE IS YOU! BY THE WAY, WHAT DOES THE FIANCE DO TO HELP YOU WITH THIS?? SEEMS LIKE HE SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF THIS REPORT.
